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AI drone finds lost hikers in Australian national park

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • An AI-powered drone successfully located two hikers lost in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia.
  • This marked the first time Fire and Rescue NSW used its AI detection system for a hiker rescue.
  • The technology significantly reduced search time, potentially saving days of effort and reducing risk to rescuers.

Two hikers in their early 20s, reported missing Tuesday evening in Kosciuszko National Park, were found using an artificial intelligence-powered drone in a mission described as a first by Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW).

It's definitely helped make what could have been a long-term incident into a very short-term incident.

— Phillip EberleFRNSW Inspector highlighting the efficiency of the AI drone in the rescue operation.

The men were hiking the Dead Horse Gap track, about 35 kilometers southwest of Jindabyne, when they went missing around 7 p.m. Fire and Rescue members from the Jindabyne station deployed a remote-controlled drone equipped with AI detection software and a thermal camera.

The drone's advanced system identified the hikers approximately 500 meters off the designated walking track, pinpointing their exact location. Police and State Emergency Service volunteers were then able to communicate with the hikers via the drone's built-in speaker and guide rescuers to them. The hikers were found less than five hours after being reported missing and suffered only mild effects of exposure, declining medical treatment at the scene.

There's every chance in the world we could have still been out there.

— Phillip EberleFRNSW Inspector emphasizing the potential duration of the search without the AI technology.

FRNSW Inspector Phillip Eberle, regional duty commander for the NSW Alpine area, stated that the AI technology likely reduced the search duration by several days. "There's every chance in the world we could have still been out there," he commented, highlighting the system's effectiveness in turning a potentially long-term incident into a short one.

When the machine determines that it thinks it's a person or a vehicle or a vessel, it will ping and put a display on exactly where it thinks that person is.

— Russell TurnerChief remote pilot explaining how the AI drone identifies potential targets during a search.

Inspector Russell Turner, chief remote pilot for FRNSW's Aviation Unit, explained that the drones are part of a statewide technology upgrade. Equipped with four cameras, including infrared, the AI software analyzes thousands of images in real-time to identify humans, vehicles, and other heat sources. The system can flag potential targets, assisting crews in search operations. The drones also feature augmented reality mapping, which can display relevant information like fire trails and bush tracks on screen, further enhancing search efficiency and reducing risks for rescuers.

It means less time on the mountain and less time looking for people, and reduced risk so that the volunteers can get home to their families quicker.

— Phillip EberleFRNSW Inspector discussing the safety benefits of the new technology for rescuers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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